366th day of 2008 - 0 remaining
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
AULD LANG SYNE DAY
Guy Lombardo
and his Royal
Canadians played Auld
Lang Syne as a New Year’s Eve song for the first time on this night in 1929. Auld Lang Syne had been the band’s theme song long before 1929. However, this night was the start of a New Year’s Eve
tradition as Lombardo’s famed orchestra played at the Hotel Roosevelt Grill
in New York City to usher in the new year.
Where did it Auld begin? Scottish poet Robert Burns said he heard an old man singing the words, and wrote them down; but Burns is considered the original author. The literal translation means “old long since”; less literal: “days gone by”.
from The Wake Up Show ... to all of you the world over: Auld Lang Syne and Happy New Year! |
... May 2009
bring days of love and laughter to you and everyone you love.
Universal Hour of Peace begins at 11:30 tonight. Until 12:30 a.m. January 1, 2009, every man, woman and child is invited to spend the hour in meditation, prayer, conversation, listening to beautiful music or whatever helps them concentrate on peace
PEACE TO YOU FROM THE DUDES !!!! :) :)
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend
And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
1. The Pregnant Man
Thomas Beatie, a trans-gendered man who was born a woman, caused a global double-take when he announced in March that he was pregnant. Beatie, who kept his (apparently well-functioning) female reproductive system while undergoing testosterone therapy and a chest reconstruction, was artificially inseminated using donor sperm. (A hysterectomy had left Beatie's wife, Nancy, unable to carry a child.) The result: a healthy baby girl, Susan Juliette, born in June. Beatie professed to be shocked at all the attention his pregnancy caused, despite having published an article about his condition, making an appearance on Oprah and writing a book about his experience. If he misses the limelight, however, there's more on the way: Beatie announced in November that he's pregnant with his second child.
2. Night of the Corpse Skull Bong
In the course of talking to police about an unrelated burglary, a Texas teen revealed that he and two friends had robbed a grave, used a garden tool to break off the skull of its occupant, made the skull into a bong and smoked marijuana out of it. Police didn't believe the story at first, but when they arrived at the home of one the fingered friends to ask about incident, the friend "regurgitated in his plate of food," according to the Houston Chronicle — which clued cops in that they may have been on the right track. The skull belonged to an 11-year-old boy who had died in 1921. The teen who first confessed was sentenced to eight months in county jail for "abuse of a corpse."
3. Strange Things Afoot in Vancouver
In a case that has confounded investigators and creeped out Canadian beachgoers, at least six severed human feet have been found on the shores of British Columbia since August 2007. The most recent discovery was in November, when a New Balance athletic shoe with a human foot inside was found south of Vancouver near the mouth of a river. (A black high-top sneaker with a foot inside was found on the beach in Washington in August.) One of the feet found in Canada was identified as that of a man who had been missing for months; two others have been linked to a different individual, still unidentified. Medical experts say that the feet most likely detached naturally from bodies floating in the ocean, but why so many have found their way to the strait between mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island is still unknown.
4. Virgin Shark Mother
To the medical unlikelihoods and religious miracles surrounding the phenomenon of virgin births, we can now add the story of a female Atlantic blacktip shark named Tidbit. Tidbit, who died due to pregnancy complications — the pup, also deceased, was discovered inside her womb after her death — had produced the offspring without the help of a shark father. The asexual reproduction, known as parthenogenesis, occurred at an aquarium in Virginia Beach, VA and the October announcement was only the second documented case in shark history. (An earlier case in Nebraska was found in a female hammerhead shark and was thought to be a fluke.) Tidbit was about 5 feet long and her baby, measuring about 10 inches, was nearly full term.
5. She Ain't Heavy, She's My Partially Absorbed Embryonic Twin
When doctors examined a 9-year-old Greek girl complaining of a stomach ache, they were startled to discover the cause: an embryonic twin the girl had absorbed while in the womb. The girls' abdomen was swollen with the growth, which surgeons removed safely. "Vanishing Twin Syndrome" is not entirely uncommon — experts say it occurs as often as 1 in 8 pregnancies — but the vast majority of vanished twins are completely absorbed by the surviving twin or by the mother before birth. The 2-inch fetus inside the girl did not have a formed brain, but did have hair and eyes.
6. Second Life Divorce
When Briton Amy Taylor caught her husband cheating on her with a prostitute, she reacted as many women would — she filed for divorce. What made the break up newsworthy was that the "cheating" was virtual and the "prostitute" was actually a divorced mother of two living in Arkansas. Taylor's husband committed the infidelity using his avatar in the computer role-playing game Second Life, but Taylor — who married her husband in 2005 and again in a lavish virtual ceremony in Second Life — viewed the online betrayal as cheating and used it as grounds for a very real divorce in the British courts. While news reports say Taylor has found love elsewhere on the web since the divorce, according to the Daily Mail her cheating husband and the Arkansas woman from his online assignations are now engaged — in real life.
7. Fish Pedicures
Some women, it seems, will do anything for beautiful feet — even use them as fish food. The practice of plunging feet into a tub of tiny carp called garra rufa, which nibble on dead skin, was popular in some Asian countries and became an American craze after John Ho, a Virginia salon owner, announced he had offered the treatment to 5,000 customers over a four-month period. Soon, pedicurists all over the country were ordering thousands of the fish, which are said to help soften the skin in advance of normal, human-administered pedicures. Unfortunately for some salon owners who had already ordered the fish, Washington and Texas quickly banned the practice on sanitary grounds. Ho, however, is still going strong with his "Dr. Fish Massage" for the feet.
8. Breast Milk Ice Cream
To highlight the plight of calves and cows, the advocacy group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals wrote an open letter to the Ben & Jerry's ice cream company, urging them to swap the cow's milk in their products for human breast milk. "Your customers and cows would reap the benefits," PETA noted, arguing that cow's milk leads to human obesity, heart disease and allergies, among other ailments. Not surprisingly, Ben & Jerry's executives were non-responsive and their employees were somewhat disgusted. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk later told our source that the breast milk campaign was designed to draw attention to the fact that calves are separated from their mothers soon after birth to be raised for veal, and the cows are milked by machine in the name of human consumption. Newkirk admitted the letter was a gimmick, saying, "It isn't feasible at all, but it's great fun to suggest it."
9. Bigfoot Lives! No, Really!
Bigfoot claims are a dime a dozen, and there was no particular reason to believe this one. But Rick Dyer and Matt Whitton seemed so sure: "Everyone who has talked down to us is going to eat their words," predicted Whitton confidently at a press conference, in which the pair of amateur Bigfoot hunters claimed they had found the corpse of a Sasquatch in the woods of northern Georgia. More than that, they claimed to have the body itself, releasing photos of what appeared to be a mass of matted hair and bloody flesh stuffed into a large freezer. As the "evidence" thawed, though, researchers revealed that "Bigfoot" was, in fact, a rubber gorilla suit stuffed with roadkill and other animal remains. Days later Dyer and Whitton, who was fired from his job as a police officer as a result of the hoax, said they had intended the stunt as a joke all along; as Dyer told a CNN affiliate, "Everyone knew we were lying."
10. Your Money For My Life
After his wife left him, Ian Usher decided to make a clean break from his old existence as a rug salesman in Perth, Australia. So he took the next logical, if extreme, step, and put his entire life up for sale on eBay. On the auction block, sold only as a package, were Usher's three-bedroom house, his 1989 Mazda sedan, a jet ski, his computer, his furniture, an introduction to his friends and a tryout at his sales job. The bids rolled in and Usher, 44, ended up collecting around $380,000. He later said he had hoped his life would sell for more, but he still had enough to finance phase II of his unusual midlife crisis, embarking on a massive trip around the world to complete a hundred life goals in a hundred weeks, a project he's blogging about online.
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THE WAKE UP TECH NEWS TODAY :
Serious security flaw found in IE
Users of Microsoft's Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed.
The flaw in Microsoft's Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people's computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say.
Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it.
Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world's computer users.
"It's a shame Microsoft have not been able to fix this more quickly"
Darien Graham-Smith
PC Pro magazine
"Microsoft is continuing its investigation of public reports of attacks against a new vulnerability in Internet Explorer," said the firm in a security advisory alert about the flaw.
Microsoft says it has detected attacks against IE 7.0 but said the "underlying vulnerability" was present in all versions of the browser.
Other browsers, such as Firefox, Opera, Chrome, Safari, are not vulnerable to the flaw Microsoft has identified.
Browser bait
"In this case, hackers found the hole before Microsoft did," said Rick Ferguson, senior security advisor at Trend Micro. "This is never a good thing."
As many as 10,000 websites have been compromised since the vulnerability was discovered, he said.
"What we've seen from the exploit so far is it stealing game passwords, but it's inevitable that it will be adapted by criminals," he said. "It's just a question of modifying the payload the trojan installs."
MICROSOFT SECURITY ADVICE
- Change IE security settings to high (Look under Tools/Internet Options)
- Switch to a Windows user account with limited rights to change a PC's settings
- With IE7 or 8 on Vista turn on Protected Mode
- Ensure your PC is updated
- Keep anti-virus and anti-spyware software up to date
Said Mr Ferguson: "If users can find an alternative browser, then that's good mitigation against the threat."
But Microsoft counselled against taking such action.
"I cannot recommend people switch due to this one flaw," said John Curran, head of Microsoft UK's Windows group.
He added: "We're trying to get this resolved as soon as possible.
"At present, this exploit only seems to affect 0.02% of internet sites," said Mr Curran. "In terms of vulnerability, it only seems to be affecting IE7 users at the moment, but could well encompass other versions in time."
Richard Cox, chief information officer of anti-spam body The Spamhaus Project and an expert on privacy and cyber security, echoed Trend Micro's warning.
"It won't be long before someone reverse engineers this exploit for more fraudulent purposes. Trend Mico's advice [of switching to an alternative web browser] is very sensible," he said.
"This could be the moment when the minnows in the browser wars finally score a significant victory"
Rory Cellan-Jones
BBC technology editor
Read the dot.life blog in full
PC Pro magazine's security editor, Darien Graham-Smith, said that there was a virtual arms race going on, with hackers always on the look out for new vulnerabilities.
"The message needs to get out that this malicious code can be planted on any web site, so simple careful browsing isn't enough."
"It's a shame Microsoft have not been able to fix this more quickly, but letting people know about this flaw was the right thing to do. If you keep flaws like this quiet, people are put at risk without knowing it."
"Every browser is susceptible to vulnerabilities from time to time. It's fine to say 'don't use Internet Explorer' for now, but other browsers may well find themselves in a similar situation," he added.
THE WAKE UP DUDES THANK THE BBC FOR THIS ARTICLE !
DONT BOTHER SUING US...WE AINT GOT NO MONEY !
:) HAVE A GREAT DAY ALL !
352nd day of 2008 - 14 remaining
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
on this date in quirkie news....1994: A Boston man was arrested at a hospital after taking two live lobsters from a supermarket tank and stuffing them down his pants. Police called it shoplifting. Doctors called it "a do-it-yourself vasectomy."
Nude opera pics shock China
A Chinese photographer is creating shockwaves with a new exhibition combining nudity and opera.
Liu Zheng, 39, has been accused of cheapening Peking Opera which is regarded as a cornerstone of Chinese culture.
His work, entitled Naked Peking Opera, has gone on show at the New Beijing Gallery but has been slammed by traditionalists.
Liu, a former photo-journalist, turned to art because he felt he needed to express his views on modern Chinese society.
"In my opinion Peking Opera has too many oppressing elements, too many rules, musts and must-nots, which in some sense is like Chinese culture," he said.
"Nudity, on the other hand, breaks up these rules and challenges the traditional mindset."
The models in the pictures are not real opera singers but ordinary people wearing Peking Opera make-up.
"I asked a few real Peking opera artists to participate, but all of them refused since they felt if they did then they wouldn't be able to return to the stage again," added Liu.
However, many visitors to the exhibition were shocked by his pictures which they felt desecrated Chinese culture.
Company manager Yu Meiren stormed out of the exhibition after blasting the nude opera pictures as "mind twisted".
Scout leaders capsized by hippo
Three British scout leaders were forced to trek through jungle for five days after a hippo capsized their canoe.
Terrified Brian Sheen, 66, Geoff Ryder, 59, and Michael Billworth, 23, were travelling on the River Niger in Guinea when the huge beast struck.
They were four days into a planned 2,500-mile river journey through Africa, reports the Daily Mail.
Mr Sheen, a retired chemist of Par, Cornwall, said: "We were on full hippo watch and all of a sudden we came to an abrupt halt. I thought we had hit a rock. The front went up and the middle went up.
"Then the back flew in the air and Geoff, who is 16 stone, was suddenly airborne and landed in the water beside the boat.
"It burst out like a submarine missile. We didn't have time to be scared. The canoe was going down fast. The hippo was about 20 yards away looking at us."
The men ditched their canoe - made from a tree trunk - and escaped after scrambling up the riverbank.
They abandoned all their gear apart from their sat nav systems and started a trek through head-high elephant grass and bamboo.
Five days later they reached a village and were fed by the inhabitants, before being given a lift 60 miles on motorcycles back to the town of Faranah in Guinea where they had begun their journey.
Q: What do you get if you cross a pig and a dinosaur?
A: Jurassic Pork.
Couple served legal papers via Facebook
An Australian couple have been served with legal documents via Facebook.
Canberra lawyer Mark McCormack persuaded a court to allow him to use the social networking site after other methods failed.
The couple's home is being repossessed after they reportedly missed loan repayments, reports the BBC.
Mr McCormack says he resorted to Facebook after unsuccessful attempts to contact them at their home address and via email, and they failed to attend a court appearance on 3 October.
He found the woman's page, and used details listed there such as her date of birth to argue in the Australian Capital Territory Supreme Court that she was the person in question. Her partner was listed as one of her "friends".
In granting permission to use the social networking site, the judge stipulated that the papers be sent via a private email so that other people visiting the page could not read their contents.
"It's somewhat novel, however we do see it as a valid method of bringing the matter to the attention of a defendant," Mr McCormack said.
He said he thought courts would continue to use Facebook, as long as they were sure it was reasonably likely to come to the attention of those concerned.
Australian courts have previously allowed people to be served with legal papers via email or even text message but this is the first time Facebook has been used.
DUNGGU criminal for today comes from the International File in Queensland, Australia, where bozo Benjamin Alexander submitted claims to the Australian Medicare Department, saying he was owed over $2700 for medical services.
His problems began when he told an auditor that the gynecological and obstetrics services he was asking payment for were performed on him.
Yes, he is a man. Maybe he needs to brush up on medical procedures before he files any more false claims. He's under arrest.
A Chinese man says he likes to relax by eating live snakes and washing them down with beer.
Wen Xide, 41, of Wangzhuang village, Zhumadian, says he has been eating live snakes for 10 years.
He started by eating one to win a bet with friends for a packet of cigarettes.
"From then on I became addicted to eating live snakes," he said.
Wen demonstrated his habit to a visiting journalist from Oriental Today by chewing down two live snakes bit by bit over a bottle of beer.
"It's a bit smelly, but they're very delicious," he exclaimed - although watching villagers said the sight gave them goosebumps and two vomited at the scene.
Wen says his son is now following his lead and has eaten eight live snakes this year.
But Wang Tianming, a doctor specialising in digestion at a local hospital, said Wen could suffer nerve problems and risked infection from parasites.
ENTERTAINMENT NEWS ON THE WAKE UP SHOW
Naomi Watts Gives Birth to Son
Actress Naomi Watts has given birth to her second child with actor husband Liev Schreiber.
Watts, 40 and Schreiber, 41, welcomed their second son in New York on Saturday.
A spokesperson for the couple revealed on Sunday, "I can confirm that she had a baby boy yesterday."
The baby is a little brother for Alexander, who was born in Los Angeles in 2007.
Rose Denies Album Sales Slumping from 'Fear of People'
Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose has laughed off reports he has canceled interviews to promote the band's new album, "Chinese Democracy," because he is suffering a fear of people.
The CD, which took 15 years to complete and release, entered at number three in the Billboard chart at the beginning of this month with disappointing sales of 261,000.
A source tells the New York Post that Rose has refused to promote the floundering disc due to the crippling effects of "anthropophobia."
A music industry insider tells the newspaper, "He has fired his management company, Front Line, three times in four weeks.
"He hasn't left his Los Angeles home in two months. He won't give interviews, won't do talk shows, or perform -- which makes touring or promoting very difficult, obviously."
But the rocker's spokesperson, Larry Solters, denies Rose has returned
to his reclusive ways, adding, "He has not been diagnosed with
anthropophobia. He hasn't fired Front Line, and no interviews have been
canceled."
Spears Kept Cowell Waiting
Music mogul Simon Cowell was treated like a schoolboy as he waited to meet Britney Spears on the set of his British talent show "The X Factor," according to fellow judge Dannii Minogue.
The singer made a much-criticized appearance on the reality show last month, but it didn't stop the judges clamoring to meet her.
And Minogue reveals how the singer's entourage ensured Spears was left alone until she was ready to meet them, and had them lining up like youngsters waiting for class.
She says, "It was hysterical. We were all like little kids at the principal's office. There were so many security guards and PR people and they had to block the whole corridor before she could come out the door."
But Minogue has blasted the 27-year-old for not meeting the contestants competing on the show.
She adds, "They were genuinely excited to be in her presence and she only had to say 'Hi' to five acts. At that point, I thought, 'What a shame because you've just crushed those contestants.' She didn't have to be like that."
Bono Awarded Nobel 'Man of Peace' Award
Irish rocker Bono has been awarded the annual Nobel Man of Peace prize for his efforts to combat poverty, debt and disease in Africa.
Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe hosted the award ceremony in the city on Friday, honoring the U2 frontman for his global campaign to persuade rich nations to lend assistance to the struggling continent.
Bono told the crowd, which included fellow Nobel laureates, "This is a very big award for me, because let's be honest this is as close as I am going to get -- as close as a rock star is ever going to get to the Nobel Peace Prize.
"I am an over-awarded, over-rewarded rock star. You are the people who do the real work.
"So I am very, very pleased to be in such esteemed company." Italian co-host Walter Veltroni, added, "We decided to nominate a man who has given a lot and will continue to give a great deal to the struggle for human rights, to the fight against poverty, with his music and with his words.
"He has put pressure on the world's governments to reach the UN's Millennium Goals. To give him the prize, is to say that fight will carry on."
Actors George Clooney and Don Cheadle were awarded the prize last year.
Cruise Stuns Leno with Elvis Impersonation
Tom Cruise has added another embarrassing talk show stunt to his repertoire, after he performed an impromptu Elvis Presley impression on "The Tonight Show with David Letterman."
The actor, who famously stunned fans in 2005 by leaping on a couch on Oprah Winfrey's daytime talk show to proclaim his love for then-girlfriend Katie Holmes, broke into a rendition of The King's hit "Blue Suede Shoes" in front of Leno and a live studio audience.
Cruise jumped from his seat to mimic the rock 'n' roll legend's hip-shaking moves during his appearance on Thursday, before confessing he'd love to follow in the footsteps of his wife Holmes and star in a Broadway play.
He told the shocked talk show host, "I like making movies but I'm not saying 'no' to Broadway. I would like to do a musical.
December 15, 2008
Soon Metallica fans will be able to shred just like Kirk Hammett - at least in a virtual sense - when Guitar Hero Metallica
is unleashed in the first half of 2009. The game will allow users to
play in either single instrument mode or band mode in some famous
settings, such as Moscow's Tushino Airfield where Metallica played the Monsters of Rock
concert in 1991, or new venues with the band's "in the round" concert
staging. There will be 28 Metallica songs included in the game, along
with a few tunes from Alice in Chains, Foo Fighters, Slayer, Machine Head and Queen. There is also an all-new "Expert+" difficulty setting featuring two bass drum pedals along with all the gameplay modes from Guitar Hero World Tour, according to Metallica.com.
Metallica
Other special Metallica-themed features will include "Fade To Black," which blacks out an opponent's highway so they can't see any notes; "Ride The Lightning," which is the electrical attack feature; and "Trapped Under Ice," which freezes a player's whammy bar.
"I was first introduced to Guitar Hero in my house about a year ago by my kids," drummer Lars Ulrich told USA Today. "They became big fans of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and all the bands I grew up on. It seemed like this was the first video game that really brought the family together. We were all sitting there and we were all sharing it. It wasn't something that was just about the person playing, it was about everybody. It became a collective thing."
Guitarist Hammett added, "It is kind of weird to know that people are going to have an experience that is going to be similar to my own experience playing and performing music. It's going to open people up maybe to the prospect of taking the whole thing one step further and actually picking up an instrument. We might be rearing an entire culture of future musicians. That prospect is just super-cool."
Guitar Hero designer Alan Flores also told USA Today that the story line of the game is that users start out by playing two songs as Metallica, and then they decide to create their own band. Then the players follow Metallica around to many of the iconic venues they have played.
"Certainly, as I have seen with my kids, it is a way to get kids passionate and involved in music," Ulrich said about why the band wanted to be involved in the game. "In between arguing with them about homework and vegetables and whatever else, I can say, 'Hey, look, maybe you are thinking Dad is a complete dork, but he's got his own video game.' And at least that's worth something."
December 15, 2008
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U2 have filmed the video for the first single from their upcoming studio record. A post on U2.com reveals that the band was in London last week shooting the clip with director Alex Courtes. The posting says that, "We are sworn to secrecy on the finer details of the shoot... but there may have been some marching girls involved. With their boots on." This could be a coy reference to the title of the track, as the first single from the new record has long been rumored to be titled "Sexy Boots."
Ex-Papa Roach drummer David Buckner has sued the band, as well as Universal Music Group and Cherry Lane Music Publishing, for unpaid royalties. The suit, which has surfaced on TMZ, says that Buckner's relationship with the members of the band is now "strained and antagonistic" since he was fired from the Rock group on Christmas Eve 2007.
Depeche Mode has completed work on their 2009 studio album. Singer Dave Gahan told The Los Angeles Times,
"We’ve been spoiled for choice with this one because we recorded more
songs for this record than we ever had for any [other] record. Maybe
I’m old school or whatever but once you start going over 12 songs, I
think it becomes a little weird." The new album is due out in the
spring, with a U.S. leg of their 2009 tour set to be announced in the
near future as well.
Madonna has paid former husband Guy Ritchie around £50m as part of their divorce settlement.
The pop star's US spokeswoman Liz Rosenberg told The Associated Press (AP) the figure included the value of the couple's Ashcombe home in England.
She said the financial part of the settlement had been worked out but custody of the couple's children had yet to be finalised.
"I'd assume it's one of the largest payouts ever in a divorce," she said.
The payout is much larger than the £24.3m Heather Mills received from Sir Paul McCartney earlier this year.
CELEBRITY DIVORCE DEALS
- Basketball star Michael Jordan: paid an estimated $168m (£110m) to his wife of nearly 18 years in November 2007
- Neil Diamond: gave an estimated $150m (£98m) to Marcia Murphey, whom in 1996
- Steven Spielberg: first wife Amy Irving was awarded an estimated $100m (£65m) in 1989
- Harrison Ford: paid an estimated $85m (£56m) to his second wife, Melissa Mathison
- Sir Paul McCartney: was told to pay Heather Mills £24.3m ($37m) by a judge in March
Ms Rosenberg told AP that Ritchie had been given £50-£60m ($76m-$92m).
In an e-mail to BBC News, she said she was confirming a story in London's Evening Standard newspaper, which said he would get $60m-$70m (£39-£46m). She declined to give further details and was unavailable to clarify the discrepancy.
When the divorce was made official last month, Ritchie told the Daily Mirror the split was "never, ever about money".
The couple, who wed at Skibo Castle in Scotland in December 2000, were granted their divorce at the High Court in London.
A sworn statement released by the court showed the pop star petitioned for divorce on the grounds of the film director's unreasonable behaviour.
Madonna also said in the statement that they had not been living at the same address for the six months before the date of the petition.
At the time, the couple had reportedly agreed to share custody of their two boys, Rocco, eight, and three-year-old adopted David Banda, while it was reported that Madonna's daughter from an earlier relationship, 12-year-old Lourdes, would stay with her.
The singer is currently on her Sticky and Sweet world tour, and is due to perform in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday.Dark Knight makes best film list
Batman film The Dark Knight has been named as one of the Top 10 movies of 2008 by the American Film Institute.
Others include political biopic Milk, animated fantasy Wall-E and Brad Pitt's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Clint Eastwood's Gran Torino and comic book blockbuster Iron Man also feature alongside the independent dramas Frozen River and Wendy and Lucy.
Frost/Nixon and The Wrestler complete the list, compiled by a panel of filmmakers, reviewers and academics.
Unlike other awards bodies, the institute does not rank films or pick one as the year's best.
The filmmakers behind the AFI's Top 10 choices will be honoured at a luncheon on 9 January.
Longlist
Meanwhile, The Dark Knight has also been named as one of the 15 semi-finalists for the best visual effects Oscar.
Others include the second Chronicles of Narnia film, Prince Caspian, and the latest James Bond adventure, Quantum of Solace.
Cloverfield, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and the fourth Indiana Jones film also feature on the longlist, to be whittled down to seven in early January.
Three will then be nominated for the Visual Effects prize, to be handed out at the Oscar ceremony on 22 February.
Last week, the late Heath Ledger was nominated for a posthumous Golden Globe for his role as the Joker in The Dark Knight.hi there ...:) thought we'd just compile some interesting reading stuff for you...so you can look busy at work !!!
Oprah's see-saw battle of the bulge
By Rajini Vaidyanathan
BBC News, Washington
To her fans, Oprah Winfrey is more of a friend than a talk show host.
Her intimate, heart-on-sleeve style of presenting has seen her share many personal moments with her viewers.
Her yo-yoing weight has been one such issue.
Over the years she has discussed the diets she's tried, and the pounds shed.
Now, writing in her magazine O, she tells them she has "fallen off the wagon" and weighs 200 pounds (91kg).
"I'm mad at myself. I'm embarrassed. I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight.
"I look at my thinner self and think, 'How did I let this happen again?'"
The cover of Oprah's magazine features her in two different pictures.
One shows her current figure, the other her more slimline self four years ago. It's a visual and public admission that she has gained 40 pounds in the past year.
Sluggish metabolism
"I thought I was finished with the weight battle. I was done. I'd conquered it. I was so sure, I was even cocky.
Her current weight and height put her body mass index at 31.8, which is obese according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
It is fitting that Oprah should choose to share her latest weight woes with the world, since she has always been very open about this aspect of her life.
In 1992, she weighed 237 pounds (108kg). She hired a personal trainer and made it her goal to slim down, and completed the Marine Corps Marathon the following year.
"I thought I was finished with the weight battle. I was done. I'd conquered it. I was so sure, I was even cocky"
Oprah Winfrey
In 1998 on her show, wearing a pair of tight fitting size 10 jeans, she famously wheeled a cart loaded with 67 pounds of fat to represent the amount she had lost on a liquid protein diet.
By 2005 she weighed 160 pounds (73kg), and had completed a diet where she starved herself for four months.
Since then, her diet pattern and weight have fluctuated. She says in her magazine that hypothyroidism - a sluggish metabolism that can cause fatigue and weight gain - are the reason she has hit the 200 pound mark.
"It seemed as if the struggle I'd had with weight my entire adult life was now officially over. I felt completely defeated. I thought, 'I give up. I give up. Fat wins.'"
'Fat cow'
"All these years I'd had only myself to blame for lack of willpower. Now I had an official, documented excuse," she said.
Writing candidly, Winfrey says that the condition sucked the life out of her, but despite feeling under the weather she continued to show up to record her shows.
"I think I hit bottom when I wanted to stay home even from a show as fun as the one we did with Tina Turner and Cher in Las Vegas.
"I was supposed to stand between them onstage, and I felt like a fat cow. I wanted to disappear. 'God help me now,' I thought. 'How can I hide myself?'"
Gayle King, Oprah's best friend, told
ABC's Good Morning America that the talk show star has already had a
big reaction from people who are surprised she confessed to gaining
weight.
King admits that to hear the words Oprah and embarrassed in the same sentence were "jarring" for her.
King told the programme: "This is not Oprah's first rodeo, she has gained weight, lost weight, gained weight, lost weight, and when she's ready to lose weight she does."
She hinted that although Oprah has said she is happy in herself at present, she has already begun working towards losing some weight.
"Oprah's going to do something about it... she is already in the process of doing something about it. But this isn't going to be a lifelong look for her. But the fact it's happened to her again is very stunning" King said.
Next month Oprah Winfrey is expected at Barack Obama's inauguration celebrations. Recently she talked about trying to find an outfit for the occasion.
"I had a dress on the vision board, but I'm not sure that's gonna fit... so I have to work on something else."
Oprah says her goal isn't to be thin, but to be healthy and strong.
Could this be the end of a long and very public conversation with her viewers about her weight loss?
Given her candidness on the matter before, the answer is likely to be "probably not".
According to a new
study, women feel sexiest when they're 34 years old.
Golden
Globes 2009: The nominations
Here is the full list of nominees for the 2009 Golden Globe Awards, to be held in Los Angeles on 11 January.
FILM CATEGORIES
Best film (drama)
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
The Reader
Revolutionary Road
Slumdog Millionaire
Best film (musical or comedy)
Burn After Reading
Happy-Go-Lucky
In Bruges
Mamma Mia
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Best director
Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire)
Stephen Daldry (The Reader)
David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon)
Sam Mendes (Revolutionary Road)
Best actor (drama)
Leonardo DiCaprio (Revolutionary Road)
Frank Langella (Frost/Nixon)
Sean Penn (Milk)
Brad Pitt (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Mickey Rourke (The Wrestler)
Best actress (drama)
Anne Hathaway (Rachel Getting Married)
Angelina Jolie (Changeling)
Kristin Scott Thomas (I've Loved You So Long)
Meryl Streep (Doubt)
Kate Winslet (Revolutionary Road)
Best actor (musical or comedy)
Javier Bardem (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Colin Farrell (In Bruges)
James Franco (Pineapple Express)
Brendan Gleeson (In Bruges)
Dustin Hoffman (Last Chance Harvey)
Best actress (musical or comedy)
Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Sally Hawkins (Happy-Go-Lucky)
Frances McDormand (Burn After Reading)
Meryl Streep (Mamma Mia)
Emma Thompson (Last Chance Harvey)
Best supporting actor
Tom Cruise (Tropic Thunder)
Robert Downey Jr (Tropic Thunder)
Ralph Fiennes (The Duchess)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (Doubt)
Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight)
Best supporting actress
Amy Adams (Doubt)
Penelope Cruz (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Viola Davis (Doubt)
Marisa Tomei (The Wrestler)
Kate Winslet (The Reader)
Best foreign language film
The Baader Meinhof Complex
Gomorrah
I've Loved You So Long
Waltz with Bashir
Best animated feature film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
Wall-E
Best screenplay
Simon Beaufoy (Slumdog Millionaire)
David Hare (The Reader)
Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon)
Eric Roth (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
John Patrick Shanley (Doubt)
Best original song
Down to Earth (Wall-E)
Gran Torino (Gran Torino)
I Thought I Lost You (Bolt)
Once In A Lifetime (Cadillac Records)
The Wrestler (The Wrestler)
Best original score
Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)
Clint Eastwood (Changeling)
James Newton Howard (Defiance)
AR Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire)
Hans Zimmer (Frost/Nixon)
TELEVISION CATEGORIES
Best series (drama)
Dexter
House
In Treatment
Mad Men
True Blood
Best series (musical or comedy)
30 Rock
Californication
Entourage
The Office
Weeds
Best mini-series or film made for TV
Cranford
Bernard & Doris
John Adams
A Raisin in the Sun
Recount
Best actor (drama)
Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment)
Michael C Hall (Dexter)
Jon Hamm (Mad Men)
Hugh Laurie (House)
Jonathan Rhys Meyers (The Tudors)
Best actor (musical or comedy)
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)
Steve Carell (The Office)
Kevin Connolly (Entourage)
David Duchovny (Californication)
Tony Shalhoub (Monk)
Best actor (mini-series or film made for TV)
Ralph Fiennes (Bernard and Doris)
Paul Giamatti (John Adams)
Kevin Spacey (Recount)
Kiefer Sutherland (24: Redemption)
Tom Wilkinson (Recount)
Best supporting actor (mini-series or film made for TV)
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met your Mother)
Denis Leary (Recount)
Jeremy Piven (Entourage)
Blair Underwood (In Treatment)
Tom Wilkinson (John Adams)
Best actress (drama)
Sally Field (Brothers & Sisters)
Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)
January Jones (Mad Men)
Anna Paquin (True Blood)
Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer)
Best actress (musical or comedy)
Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
America Ferrera (Ugly Betty)
Tina Fey (30 Rock)
Debra Messing (The Starter Wife)
Mary-Louise Parker (Weeds)
Best actress (mini-series or film made for TV)
Judi Dench (Crawford)
Catherine Keener (An American Crime)
Laura Linney (John Adams)
Shirley MacLaine (Coco Chanel)
Susan Sarandon (Bernard and Doris)
Eileen Atkins (Cranford)
Laura Dern (Recount)
Melissa George (In Treatment)
Rachel Griffiths (Brothers & Sisters)
Dianne Wiest (In Treatment)
Lebanese finds 'heaviest' potato
A farmer in southern Lebanon has dug up what might be the heaviest potato in the world.
"This giant weighs 11.3 kilos (24.9 pounds)," Khalil Semhat told the AFP news agency at his farm near Tyre, 85 kilometres (50 miles) south of Beirut.
"I've been working the land since I was a boy, and it's the first time I've seen anything like it."
Mr Semhat, 56, said he had to ask for help from a friend to get the huge vegetable out of the ground.
He insisted that he had used no fertilizer or other chemicals to produce it.
Mr Semhat said he hoped his potato will be recognised as the heaviest potato in the world.
The current world record, as recorded in the Guinness Book of Records, is held by K Sloan of the Isle of Man in Britain for a potato weighing a mere 3.5 kg (7 lb 13 oz).
2008 is the International Year of the Potato, a project sponsored by the United Nations which aims to focus attention on the importance of the vegetable in providing food security and alleviating poverty.The United Nations
Food and Agriculture Organization says nearly a billion people in the world are
undernourished.
ON THIS DATE IN ....1984 - The group known as Band Aid -- 38 of Britain’s top rock musicians -- recorded Do They Know It’s Christmas? for Ethiopian famine victims. Despite the best of intentions, much of the food raised never got to the starving Ethiopians. In fact, much of it was found rotting on docks, not fit for human consumption. More than a Band-Aid was needed to fix that political mess.
Actor cuts throat on Vienna stage
An actor narrowly escaped death after slashing his throat on stage with a real knife, instead of a blunt stage-prop blade.
Daniel Hoevels slumped to the floor with blood pouring from his neck during a performance at Vienna's Burgtheater.
He was rushed to hospital with a deep slice to his throat which fortunately missed his main artery.
Austrian police are investigating whether the incident was a mistake or a deliberate attack on the actor.
"If the actor had put a little more pressure on the knife or even struck an artery, he would probably have bled to death on the stage," a doctor who treated Mr Hoevels, 30, told the newspaper Oesterreich.
The real-life drama happened last weekend during a performance of Friedrich Schiller's play Mary Stuart, about Mary Queen of Scots.
Mr Hoevels's character was supposed to commit suicide and the actor used what he thought was a blunt prop weapon.
Applause for 'stunt'
The audience is said to have applauded what they thought was a stunning special effect, and only realised something was wrong when the actor staggered off stage to receive treatment.
Austrian police launched an investigation and have not ruled out the possibility of foul play, Austrian media reported.
They were told that the knife had been bought at a local shop.
"The knife even still had the price tag on it," one officer said.
Mr Hoevels recovered after hospital treatment and, in true theatrical tradition, appeared on stage the following night although with a bandage around his neck.In a study, more than
half of MP3 users listen to music at volumes which could cause permanent
hearing loss.
In Wellington, Florida, 20-year-old Frantz Leger was arrested at a mall for wearing droopy jeans. A Palm Beach County sheriff's Lieutenant said: "The mall doesn't put up with that tom-foolery...His pants were down below his butt. No one goes to the mall and wants to see the crack of someone's butt."
wake up says : well...that depends who "she" is ....oops :)
dogs have a sense of fairness
Researchers in Austria have come up with the observation. The article goes:
Ask them to do a trick and they'll give it a try. For a reward, sausage say, they'll happily keep at it.
But
if one dog gets no reward, and then sees another get sausage for doing
the same trick, just try to get the first one to do it again.
Indeed, he may even turn away and refuse to look at you.
Dogs, like people and monkeys, seem to have a sense of fairness.
...When you think about it, dogs have it made.
Here are some "Reasons Why It's Great to be a Dog"
If it itches, you can reach it. And no matter where it itches, no one will be offended if you scratch it in public.
No one notices if you have hair growing in weird places as you get older.
Personal hygiene is a blast: No one expects you to take a bath every day, and you don't even have to comb your own hair.
Having a wet nose is considered a sign of good health.
No one thinks less of you for passing gas. Some people might actually think you're cute.
Who needs a big home entertainment system? A bone or an old shoe can entertain you for hours.
You can spend hours just smelling stuff.
No one ever expects you to pay for lunch or dinner. You never have to worry about table manners, and if you gain weight, it's someone else's fault.
It doesn't take much to make you happy. You're always excited to see the same old people. All they have to do is leave the room for five minutes and come back.
...and last but not least...
Every garbage can looks like a cold buffet to you.
JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard is on course to become the fastest-selling book of 2008 in the UK.
The Harry Potter author's collection of fairytales has shifted close to 370,000 copies in its first week on sale.
The book's nearest rival, Guinness World Records 2008, had 73,236 over-the-counter sales in the same period.
A spokesman for Nielsen BookScan, which compiles the official UK book chart, said sales were "huge", but had failed to match the Harry Potter books.
The seven-book saga has sold some 400 million copies around the world since the first instalment was published in 1997.
'Perfect Christmas treat'
Six handwritten copies of Beedle The Bard were originally produced as gifts to close Rowling's friends.
But a seventh copy raised almost £2m at
auction, prompting the author to publish the 128-page book and give the
proceeds to a children's charity.
More than seven million copies have been printed in 27 languages.
The book - which was first referred to in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - contains five fairy tales, with "commentary" and footnotes by Potter character Professor Dumbledore.
Reviews have been positive, with the Times describing it as "a perfect Christmas treat ideal to slip in any stocking."
The Telegraph said the book "would barely satisfy Potter fanatics for more than half an hour" but said it contains "some nice touches".
Proceeds from its sale will go to Children's High Level Group (CHLG), a charity raising money for vulnerable children across Eastern Europe.
At a tea party held at the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh recently, Rowling read from one of the seven handwritten copies of the book.Knight 'Negotiating 'Grey's Exit'
Rumors surrounding T.R. Knight's departure from "Grey's Anatomy" have resurfaced after multiple insiders confirmed the actor has asked show creator Shonda Rimes to be released from his contract.
A spokesperson for the medical drama was on Monday forced to deny an Internet report alleging Knight -- who has played Dr George O'Malley since 2005 -- had stormed off the program's set and quit.
The rep told UsMagazine.com Knight had "never walked off set in the middle of filming ... and will be shooting this week."
But the star, who is said to have three years left until his contract ends, is in fact negotiating his release with Rimes and TV network ABC, show insiders told the Associated Press and Entertainment Weekly on Tuesday.
An unnamed source tells EW.com, "They're working out the details (of his departure) now. He just feels it's time to move on."
An ABC spokesperson declined to comment on the new reports.
Abdul: ''Idol' Bosses Failed To Protect Me From Stalker'
Paula Abdul has accused her "American Idol" bosses of exposing her to the crazed fan who committed suicide outside her California home.
Abdul claims producers on the show allowed Paula Goodspeed to audition on three separate occasions, knowing she had stalked the star for 17 years.
And she accuses broadcaster Fox of shooting footage at her home, which effectively showed fans how to get access to the Sherman Oaks estate.
Speaking on talk show host Barbara Walters' Sirius Satellite radio show on Monday night, Abdul said, "She came to the audition. I said, 'This girl is a stalker of mine. Please do not let her in.' I was shaking.
"The producers thought, for entertainment value, it would be funny. Fun for them to cause me stress. It would make good television.
"If you look at the audition on YouTube, you'll see I couldn't even look up.
"But it wasn't just once. She showed up again in Las Vegas and she showed up the following year."
Abdul adds, "(Then) Fox broadcasting literally went to my house and gave my address away and showed how easy it is to break in."
The 45-year-old also reveals Goodspeed wrote her disturbing letters threatening her life.
Abdul told Walters, "The letters that were written were about bodily harm. She said that the only way I will serve my purpose is when I am up in heaven being her guardian angel."
When Walters asked why Abdul was still working on the show she replied, "Well, I'm still under contract."
Pitt Defends Jolie Against 'Manipulative' Article
Brad Pitt has come to the defense of partner Angelina Jolie after a candid article about the actress labeled her "manipulative."
The New York Times published a one-page report on the star last month, detailing how she has allegedly mastered control of the press without the help of a publicist, cultivating relationships with reporters and even setting up her own photo shoots for the paparazzi.
But Pitt has vehemently denied the claims.
He tells Rolling Stone, "It sounded to me like the story made Angie out to be manipulative in some way. She is savvy.
"I get defensive. (They're) talking about not only the woman I love, but one of the people on this planet who I have the greatest respect for. I think she's as honorable as anyone I've ever met."
Martin Is a Hands-On Dad
Pop star Ricky Martin has promised never to hire a nanny to look after his twin sons, because he is proud to care for them all by himself.
The 36-year-old singer became dad to baby boys, Valentino and Matteo, in August after fathering them through a surrogate mother.
After ruling out the "long and complicated process" of adoption, Martin opted for surrogacy, calling it "an intriguing and faster option."
And the star is determined he will be there for every step of his sons' upbringing.
He tells People.com, "Everything they do, from smiling to crying, feels like a blessing. Being a father feels amazing.
"I don't have a nanny. I'm doing this on my own because I don't want to miss a moment. I have a personal assistant who helps me, someone who takes care of me while I'm taking care of them, but I'm the one who changes the diapers, the one that feeds them, the one that bathes them, the one that puts them to sleep. For any parent, the first couple of months tend to get a little bit intense."
Martin continues, "I love to read books to my sons and tell them stories. I play music for them so they develop their own personalities. I want to give them information and raise them with honesty and love, and give them self-esteem and a lot of acceptance."
formula 1
Mosley delighted after FIA reaches costs agreement with teams
The FIA and the Formula One teams have reached agreement on cost cutting measures following a Monte Carlo meeting on Wednesday, which both parties described as the most successful any of the participants can remember.
Exact details will be released following Friday’s FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, but the measures are said to meet all objectives put forward by the FIA for 2010. The teams have also put forward proposals for significant savings in 2009.
“I am delighted with the outcome of this meeting,” said FIA President Max Mosley after the meeting, with Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) counterpart Luca di Montezemolo adding, “The unity of the teams was fundamental to meeting the goals for a new Formula One, but with the same DNA, as requested by the FIA.”
The measures are expected to include a major cut in the current 30,000 km testing allowance and further limits on aerodynamic development and wind tunnel usage. An increased use of standard parts is another possibility.
It remains to be seen whether the teams have come up with an acceptable alternative to the FIA’s standard engine proposals, which interested parties must sign up for by Thursday afternoon.
Full statement from the FIA and FOTA:
FIA and FOTA have had the most successful meeting on Formula One matters which any of the participants can remember.
Agreement was reached on measures to meet all the objectives originally put forward by the FIA for 2010 and thereafter in addition to which FOTA have now made proposals for very significant cost saving in 2009 while maintaining Formula One at the pinnacle of motor sport and reinforcing its appeal.
These proposals will be put to the FIA World Motor Sport Council on Friday following which full details will be released.
FIA President Max Mosley said,
“I am delighted with the outcome of this meeting.”
FOTA President Luca di Montezemolo said,
“The unity of the teams was fundamental to meeting the goals for a new Formula One, but with the same DNA, as requested by the FIA.”
Additional statement from Luca di Montezemolo:
"I
am very glad about the climate of enormous collaboration at the
meeting. There is a common sense of the difficult moment of our sport.
Yesterday we could see the great responsibility of all the
participants. The world-wide economical crisis and the enormous
increase of costs in Formula One over the last years lead the FIA and
its President to give a strong and right impulse to cut costs as of
2010 to get our sport back into acceptable economical dimensions, so
all teams will be able to participate. The answer we could find was
beyond our all expectations. The extreme compactness, never seen
before, and all the participant's passion for this sport brought the
FOTA members to go beyond the requests made by President Mosley, taking
into account courageous proposals, while voting unanimously for a
substantial reduction of costs already as of 2009, which will be the
most difficult year for the world economy.
"The proposals presented to President Mosley, with Formula One's DNA in mind - made of technology and sportiness - will enable us to drastically cut costs as of the upcoming season to have a complete new Formula One in the year 2012, projected into the future, distinguishing itself by an innovative spirit and great attention as far as the environment is concerned, but on economic levels as in the 90s, while maintaining the fascinating challenges, which is one of the factors why this sport is one of the most popular sports in the world.
"President Mosley appreciated our proposals, which will be examined tomorrow by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. We, as FOTA, will continue our work also in other areas, such as the race weekend format, and we want to determine the details for the upcoming years, bearing in mind the observations expressed by Mosley yesterday. I am extremely proud of the work FOTA has done so far; an association, which didn't exist until last September and which united the teams, going beyond their rivalry, the salt of racing, but which could have been an obstacle on the way redesigning the future of Formula One. There is still much left to do, also because when we have a look at the economic side of the companies and not only the ones of the F1 teams, we have to consider the costs but also the earnings. In this sense yesterday we managed to agree with the FIA on the necessity to organize a meeting with FOM to discuss the earnings of the Formula One teams."
Raikkonen not making predictions for '09
Former
world champion Kimi Raikkonen believes new regulation changes next year
make it virtually impossible to make firm predictions about the form of
any team in 2009.
A major aerodynamic revamp, the return of slick tyres and the introduction of Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) have provided a host of challenges to teams in preparing for the new season.
And that has left Raikkonen unsure of what impact it will have on each team, or even how much it will open up the field.
"There are many more question marks compared to last year, everything is very different," he was quoted as saying by Gazzetta dello Sport.
"If you do everything well you can have some advantages, while if you do things wrong it can cost you a lot. But this is no time for speculation."
Raikkonen is also unsure yet of how big a challenge the new slick tyres will be - having tried them out extensively at Jerez on Wednesday.
"I think in the end the tyres will work well, but it takes time to get used to them," he said. "In general I prefer slick tyres, but if I think back at the grooved tyres, thanks to the competition between Michelin and Bridgestone they became very good.
"When we moved to a single supplier, the push from competition ended. So it's better to wait and see."
Industry experts have warned that Honda could be left with a bill of £100 million if they don't find a new buyer for the Formula One team.
The Times claims that the Japanese manufacturer could be forced to pay Jenson Button up to £24 million in compensation after they recently tied him down to a new three-year deal. Their 700-odd staff members will also need redundancy packages while the termination of contracts with their suppliers will also cost a lot of money
The report further adds that "Honda will be lucky to get away with spending £100 million" for quitting Formula One.
It's not only Honda that will suffer. Some of their sponsors will also feel the pinch. Brazilian petrol producer Petrobos had a deal worth $20 million a year with Honda.
Several people have already raised questions about Honda's Earth Dream sponsorship deal. The team dispensed with the 'money for logos' concept and replaced it with a satellite image of the world as part of their plan to promote an environmental message.
Chris Lightfoot, managing director of Whitestone International, which has the FA and the ECB as clients, told The Times: "Was the Earth Dream idea a good one? You wonder whether the public really got it and whether Honda's message somehow got lost in the noise of Formula One.
"People inside businesses get very enthusiastic about these sorts of projects but the real evaluation is whether the message cut through and I am not sure it did."
Formula One fans are almost universal in their demand for more overtaking in the sport - with a majority believing that cars and circuits should be improved to help matters.
That is the one of the key messages that has come out of the results of the 2008 ING/F1 Racing Survey, which was completed recently by 70,000 fans from 160 different countries.
Speaking about their hopes for the future of F1, 96 percent of respondents said that they wanted more exciting racing and overtaking – with 81 percent saying that the cars should be modified to achieve this, and 70 percent saying the tracks must be changed.
The survey results suggest that the quality of the racing remains the key factor for fans. However, a vast majority (90 percent) also believe F1 must continue going to classic venues, 88 percent want to place more emphasis on driver skill, and 83 percent stating that the sport must always be the pinnacle of technology.
Despite the keenness for technology, only 35 percent believed it was the most exciting aspect of F1.
Television remains the most popular way for fans to follow F1, with 97 percent of fans having watched the sport through the medium this year. But the Internet was not far behind, with 93 percent of fans saying they had used the World Wide Web to follow the sport.
The Internet remained the main channel for Formula One fans to get their news updates from the sport, with 90 percent of fans going to dedicated F1 websites – up from 87 percent in the last survey in 2006.
Only 44 percent of people followed the sport mainly through television highlights, with only 19 percent – down from 39 percent at the last survey – going to newspapers.
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Buying Water Filters/Dispensers?
Check Them Out First
KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 9 (Bernama) -- Some consumers could be easily duped into parting with their hard-earned cash by unscrupulous traders or fly-by-night companies.
More often than not, they would be making a purchase without checking on the validity of information given for some products.
"In the era of cutting-edge technology, many consumers tend to believe claims related to health and hygiene. Among the items that have become a major concern for Fomca (Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations) are water filters and water vending machines," Piarapakaran Subramaniam, the programme manager for Fomca's Environment Desk told Bernama.
WATER FILTERS
Filtration is a process where unwanted materials in any solution or mixture are removed. These materials are normally related to health problems or environmental pollution.
Piarapakaran said the filtration process is mainly used in industries either to treat water or effluents.
"Being health conscious, every one of us wants the best technology to protect ourselves and our family.
"Nevertheless, we must always be on our guard. The question that should be in our mind is do filters safeguard our health? The same thing goes for water vending machines," he said.
CONCERN ON CLAIMS
Piarapakaran said companies tend to advertise claims that by drinking water filtered by a particular brand could boost energy or even cure sickness.
"Some retailers or direct sellers may even use pictures of individuals and their recommendations to support the claims. How true could they be? What are the actual certifications received by them?" he asked.
He said there are filters that remove chlorine from the water supply.
However, consumers are not reminded that non-chlorinated water is not suitable for storage without prior boiling, he said.
The filtrate or 'the dirt' would be left on the layers of the filter and these have to be cleaned periodically, said Piarapakaran.
"This is due to the limited capacity of the filters to store the dirt. Anything exceeding this capacity would cause these chemicals to be released back into the filtered water," he said.
WATER DISPENSERS
Piarapakaran also voiced Fomca's concerns with regard to water dispensers and vending machines.
He spoke on the survey conducted by Fomca recently, disclosing some of the findings which are quite disturbing.
"The water vending machines are situated at open and public spaces. Some are even located next to drains and rubbish bins," he said.
The survey was carried out in Petaling Jaya, Kuala Lumpur and Port Dickson and in most cases the water vending machines are found along shop lots in housing estates.
Another point that Piarapakaran wanted to highlight is the cleanliness of the nozzles through which the water is dispensed.
"The source of water for these water vending machines is from the domestic water supply that undergoes filtration. When buying a sealed water bottle for drinking, it is understood that the water is clean, mainly because it carries the certification from the Ministry of Health.
"In the case of water vending machines, who certifies them? In our investigation, one of the water vendor mentioned that the machine is given a temporary license which is renewable under the temporary hawker's license category," he said.
Piarapakaran said the integrity of the claims for both the water filters and vending machines are not verified by the authorities.
"Fomca urges the relevant government agencies to carry out proper enforcement and certification to ensure that the consumers are not victimised by false claims," he said.
BOTTLED WATER
Due to the condition of some tap water which could be 'murky' at times, many consumers are turning to bottled water for drinking.
Piarapakaran said consumers should be able to differentiate between Natural Mineral Water (NMW) and Packaged Drinking Water (PDW).
"NMW is defined as ground water obtained for human consumption from underground water resources. It contains various minerals such as magnesium, calcium, fluoride, sodium and sulphate.
"NMW must comply with the standards as prescribed in Schedule 26 (Regulation 360A(7), Food Regulations 1985, by the Food Quality and Control Division, Ministry of Health," he explained.
On PDW, he said it should be potable water or treated potable water other than natural mineral water that is sealed in bottles or other types of packaging and is fit for human consumption.
"The source for this PDW could be from the public water supply, surface water of underground water.
"The simplest way to differentiate between these two types of bottled water is by the colour of the bottle caps. Multi-coloured bottle caps are given for Natural Mineral Water while white bottle caps are only for Packaged Drinking Water," he said.
According to Piarapakaran, other than the cap's colour, consumers are also advised to read the label carefully to ensure the approved license number is displayed.
FOMCA'S GUIDES ON WATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
In an effort to help consumers to be wiser in their actions particularly against false claims, Fomca has come out with some tips:-
* Identify the water quality problem that you need to address for your home and the contaminants that might be present in the water. This could be done by monitoring the activities around your residential area, for example, industrial pollution and sewage treatment plants.
* Determine the type of treatment required for your household, whether whole house (Point of Entry/POE) or single tap (Point of Use/POU). Most nuisance problems such as iron, manganese or odour suggest POE treatment while POU treatment would only be necessary if there are possible health effects due to contaminants such as nitrate or ammonia. POU treatment could be replaced with boiling the water before consumption.
* Determine the type of treatment that would effectively remove or reduce contamination. For example, activated carbon filter absorbs organic contaminants that cause taste and odour problems. Some types remove cleaning solvent and pesticides. Activated carbon filter is also efficient in removing metals such as lead and copper.
* Select only reputable dealers. Check with others who have used the equipment and ensure that the equipment has been certified or validated for the target functions.
* Determine whether the system has adequate capacity to meet household water needs at the pressures and flow rates of water you receive from your water supply operator.
* Understand the maintenance requirements and decide if you are capable of performing the routine maintenance operations. Also understand how to ensure that the equipment is functioning properly.
